Charles Leonard Smith, 66

Charles Leonard Smith, a 66-year-old black man, was found dead Monday, Dec. 7, off North Alvarado Street underneath the 101 Freeway, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

About 11 a.m., Smith was found with stab wounds inside his tent under the freeway, said LAPD Det. Ray Martinez. Smith was last seen alive about 11 p.m. Sunday.

Martinez said that Smith was well-known to the merchants and others who frequent the area. "I'm sure somebody heard something," he said.

In April, Martinez said, Smith was stabbed after an argument. No one was arrested in that incident, and police are looking into whether that was related to the fatal attack.

Smith was featured in the Los Angeles Times in June in an article about a City Council proposal to crack down on homeless encampments. The article outlined the possessions of homeless people.

Smith, an Air Force veteran, told The Times that he had lived in the neighborhood for 22 years and had been on the streets for the last year. The government got Smith an apartment in Baldwin Hills in May, but Smith said he didn't have a TV and "I don't know anybody" there, so he came back to the underpass.

“It’s like a home away from home,” Smith said. Smith collected rows of shoes, which he gave out to others in the area.

Martinez found about 20 pairs of shoes while processing the crime scene.

Anyone with information is asked to call Martinez at (213) 484-3642. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @nicolesantacruz and @latimeshomicide on Twitter.